Automatic reversing device for continuously operating a tape-recorder



Malch 1962 lSAO HORIMURA 3,026,057

AUTOMATIC REVERSING DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING A TAPE-RECORDER Filed June 16, 1959 INVENTOR. ISHU HDRIMUR A United States Patent AUTOMATIC REVERSING DEVICE FOR CON- TINUOUSLY OPERATING A TAPE-RECQRDER Isao Horimura, Chofu-shi, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Kofuku Sangyo Kahushiki Kaisha, Naka-kn, Nagoya,

Japan Filed June 16, 1959, Ser. No. 820,753 Claims priority, application Japan Feb. 7, 1959 2 Claims. (Cl. 242-5512) This invention relates to a tape-recorder which makes a recording or reproducing on the surface of the tape in two rows on each complementary half of the tape-width, and more particularly to a device by which travelling direction of the tape is automatically reversed to efiect recording or reproducing successively in two rows on each complementary half of the tape-width as in case of photographing 8 mm. movie films.

According to the present invention, there is provided an automatic reversing device of travelling direction of the tape of a tape-recorder for continuously feeding the tape through its forward and reverse travelling so that the tape travelling is automatically reversed for recording or reproducing in two rows on each complementary half of the tape-width, comprising a pawl means movably mounted on one of the reels of the tape-recorder, and an actuating mechanism to be driven by the pawl means for alternatively closing two switches respectively for forward and reverse drive of the reels, the pawl means being adapted to disengage with the actuating mechanism when the said one reel has the tape wound thereon and to engage with the actuating mechanism when the said one reel is released from the tape upon feeding out all of the length thereof.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice an embodiment thereof will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan view showing the device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic plan view showing the lever and the actuating member, of the device shown in FIG- URE 1, when they are disengaged; and

FIGURES 3 and 4 are a plan view and a side elevation partially in section respectively, of an engaging member, the former showing the engaging member in its retracting position, while the latter in its projecting position.

Referring to the drawings, a right hand and a left hand reel shown as 1 and 1' each comprise a radially extending slot 5 in a support plate 4 between a core 2 and a bearing portion 3, and the slot 5 receives movably a pawl 6 which is normally urged by means of a spring 7 to project outwardly from the core. The pawl 6 is provided with an engaging portion 6 projecting laterally of the supporting plate 4. The present device has levers 8 and 8' pivoted at C and C respectively, and one end 9 of the lever 8 is made to engage with said pawl 6 when it is projecting outwardly. The lever 8 is formed with a shoulder 10 adapted to engage a lug 12 carried on an actuating member 11 which is also pivoted at 11'. The lever 8 and the actuating member 11 are normally urged by means of springs 13 and 14 respectively, in such a manner that the lug 12 abuts the shoulder 10. A forward drive switch S1 and a reverse drive switch S2 for controlling the direction of rotation of the reels are adapted to be operated by the actuating member 11, and these switches are so arranged that the switch S1 closes when the lug 12 of the actuating member 11 comes to abut the shoulder 10. One end 16 of the lever 8', as in the case of the lever 8, engages with a pawl 6 provided in the left hand reel 1', and the other end 17 of the lever 8' engages with a switch S3 for stopping rotation of the reel. The lever 8' is normally urged by means of a spring 18 in such a direction that the switch S3 be closed. The tape of the recorder is represented by numeral 19 and the transducer heads of the tape-recorder are indicated by numerals 20 and 20. The head 26 is made to be effective when the reel rotates forwardly, while the head 20' is made to be effective when the reel rotates reversely. And each head 20 or 20 is adapted to operate upon closing either of the switches S1 and S2. A pivoted handle 21 has a pin 23 which engages the actuating member 11 and a sliding member 22 which is attached slidably to the frame of the device, and the left hand end of the sliding member 22 is adapted to engage with the lower end 15 of the lever 8 thereby to operate the device manually by the action of the handle 21.

In the device described above, the tape is attached to the reel just ahead of the pawl in the unwinding direction, and the tape is then wound on the core of the reel 1 or 1, the pawl 6 being depressed inwardly by the pressure of the tape and the engaging portion 6 of the pawl 6 is moved to such position that it does not engage with the end 9 or 16 of the lever 8 or 8. Therefore, when the end of the tape wound on one reel is wound on the other reel, the pawls 6, 6 of the both reels will be depressed and maintained in their retracted positions, and recording or reproducing can be first effected on one complementary half of the tape while feeding the tape forwardly by unwinding it from the right hand reel 1 and simultaneously winding it on the left hand reel 1', and in succession thereto, recording or reproducing on the other complementary half is accomplished by feeding the tape reversely from the left hand reel 1 to the right hand reel 1, by means of the present invention in a manner explained below. When the compressive pressure applied by the tape on the pawl 6 is released after the last coil of tape is off the core 2, but before the tape is disconnected from the reel the pawl 6 is actuated by the action of the spring 7 to run out into such position that it permits the engaging portion 6' to be in the engaging position with the end 9 of the lever 8. Accordingly, as the result of rotation of the reel 1, the pawl 6 causes the lever 8 to rock in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1 against the action of the spring 13. Since the shoulder 16 disengages the lug 12 at this time, the actuating member 11 swings clockwise about the fulcrum 11 by means of the spring 13 to open the switch S1 and to close the switch S2. Upon closing this reverse drive switch S2, the reels begin to reversely rotate for winding back the tape from the left reel 1' to the right reel 1, and at the same time the operation of the heads 20 and 20 is changed so that the head 20 be inoperative and the head 20' be operative. For this purpose, the heads 20 and 20 are each located at different levels, and one of the heads makes recording on the higher half of the tape and the other head on the lower half thereof. Thus it will be understood that the rotation of the reels is automatically reversed and the recording or reproducing may be performed on each complementary half of the tape in succession. Then after spending all of the tape which has been wound on the reel 1', the pawl 6 of the reel 1' springs out and engages with the end 16 of the lever 8', thereby causing the lever 8' to shift against the action of the spring 18 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1. Then the end 17 of the lever 8 opens the switch S3, and the rotation of the reels may be automatically brought to a stop. It will be understood that the feed of the tape automatically stops after the performance of forward and reverse recordings or reproducings in succession.

Though the invention is hereinbefore described referring to an embodiment shown in the drawings, various modifications may be made within the limit of the invention claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a tape recorder having two winding reels, the reels being driven in opposite directions, and two transducer heads, one positioned for acting on one half of a a tape and the other positioned for acting on the other half of a tape, that improvement comprising an automatic dcvice for reversing the direction of travel of a tape being wound onto one reelfrom the other reel, comprising a pawl means, saidrone reel having a radial slot therein in which said pawl means is slidably mounted, spring means biasing said. pawl outwardly along said slot, a switch actuating mechanism adjacent said one reel at a position adjacent the circle traversed by the outer end of said slot as said one reel rotates, said switch actuating mechanism being engaged by said pawl means when it is in the outermost position in said slot, a first switch effecting rotation of said one reel in the winding direction and energizing one of said transducer heads, a second switch effecting rotation of said other reel in the winding direction and energizing the other of said transducer heads, said switch actuating means being biased toward said first switch'for closing said first switch, and said switch actuating means comprising release means holding said switch actuating means in engagement with said second switch against the biasing of said switch actuating means and releasing said switch actuating means when said switch actuating means is engaged by said pawl, whereby when a tape is wound on said other reel and unwound from said one reel, the tape on said one reel holds said pawl from engaging with said switch actuating means until the last coil of tape starts to unwind, at which time said pawl is spring urged to the outer end of said radial slot and engages said switch actuating means to release said switch 7 actuating means for closing said first switch efiecting rotation of said one reel to start said one reel rotating in the winding direction. v

2. The improvement in an automatic device for reversing the direction of travel of a tape as claimed in claim 1 in which said release means in said switch actuating means comprises a lever pivoted to said tape recorder, and said switch actuating means further comprises a lever pivoted to said tape recorder and having one end engageable with said switches said further lever being biased in the direction for closing said first switch, one end of said lever being biased into contact with said further lever for retaining said lever in contact with said further lever and restraining said further lever against the bias of said further lever, said pawl being engageable with said lever for pivoting said lever out of engagement with said further lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

